Machine for longitudinally corrugating long metal sheets



Aug' 5, 1952 c. A. RICHARDSON 2,605,810

MACHINE FOR LONGITUDINALLY GORRUGATING LONG METAL SHEETS Filed April 2'?, 1956 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 3/ 34 33 37 39 28 uvVENToR.

C70/'ence ,4. @cd/'01500 1 ;.I.4. BY

gym VM Aug 5, 1952 c. A. RICHARDSON MACHINE FOR EONGITUDINALLY CORRUGATING LONG METAL SHEETS Filed April 27, 1950 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 u Ej In' hill lwlllllllulx lllulll" 'IIHHII y INVENTOR. Mafia/'0300 Cla/'ence BY my MM,

Arran/5y Patented Aug. 5, 1952 sur' oFNFicE Y Connu- GATING LUNG METAL SHEETS y ClarenceA.Yllichardsonz,Longmont,y Cole. Application April 27, 1950, Serial No.` 153,531

I fj-Y'lhis invention relates .broadly to metal working machinesV Aand more specically` to machines for longitudinally corrugating long metal sheets.

Sheets of metal suchl as soitA steel and aluminum are extensively employed for many uses and are extensively employed in connection with buildings, auto trailers, awnings, etc. Aluminum is in great demand for use in the places indicated, but before it can be used in a satisfactory manner it must be corrugated. Transverse corrugations are not satisfactory,V and although sheets may be readily corrugated transversely, sheets corrugated in this manner are undesirable:

Corrugating long sheets of aluminum longitudinally has so far presented diiculties that have eiectively prevented .sheet aluminum so v corrugated from becoming an item of commerce.

The various difculties encountered in efforts lheretofore maderto effect longitudinal corrugations of aluminum sheets will not Vbe enumerated vor explained in detail. f

n is the object'of this invention to produce a simple machine of such construction and design that sheets of aluminum of lengths ten feet and longer and of any width can be successfully corrugated in the direction of the length of the sheet. i

A further object is toproduce a machine employing one pair of rollers only.

Another object is to produce a machine that,A iny addition to corrugating Ythe sheets, will also compress and harden them and leave the surlface smooth and hard.

A further object is to produce a machine for the purpose indicated, which may be operated ure 1;

Figure 3l is an enlarged sectional detail taken on line 3-3, Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section taken on lined-4, Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on line 5 5, Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6 8, Figure l; y

s claims. (ci. 1534-777) Figure 7 is atop plan view showing one form of lplate shifting mechanism, looking in the direction of arrow 1, in Figure 8; Y

Figure 8 is a section taken Von line 8*-8, Figure 7; v

' Figure 9 is a'fragmentary side elevation looking through plane 9 9, Figure l; and

Figure 10- is a fragmentary section through the .rollers showing a portion of the metal plate in position.A

Referring now to the drawing, reference numeral H designates a supporting surface such as a floor and reference numeral l2 designates the side frame members, which in the Yembodi- Ament shown are identcal with the exception that one is a right and the other a left.. Each frame has a basel that rests on the floor and is normally attached thereto by bolts or other suitable means. above the base by an inverted V frame Whose two legs have been designated by numerals I5. The frames are arranged with the channel sides of members I4 toward the inside and are interconnected by four or more. transversely extending channels l 6 held in place by bolts Il or other suitable means. The bases may bek interconnected by bars I8. Each frame has an upwardly `extending pillow block or bearing guide and support I9 in which are mounted bearings 2! in which are journaled the trunnions 2i of rollers 22 and 23,' the formerbeing the female andthe latter the male roller. The .spacing of the rollers is controlled by screws 2d or, other suitable means.

VThe upper or male roller is provided with a which is positioned midway between its ends,

number of spaced circular ridges 25, one of the others being equidistantly spacedv andflie between the middle ridge and one end, one-half of the roller having a smooth cylindrical surface.. The lower or female roller is the same size as the male roller, rbut is provided with grooves of the proper size and shape to receive ridges 25 andcoope-ratewith them for corrugating the aluminum sheet 26.

It will be observed that the uppersurfaces of transverse frame members 6 are provided with grooves 2l. Supported on members 6 are plates 2B having attached to their under surface metal strips 29 that nt grooves 21 forming means for guiding plates 28 as they are moved transversely by means that will presently be described. Plates 28 have their upper surfaces provided with spaced parallelv grooves 30 having the cross sectional shape of the grooves in roller 22 and the same spacing so' that they form extensions of the roller grooveswhen properly positioned. Plates 28 have Two channels I4 aresupported 141 which are `of the same'siZe.

a width substantially equal to one-half the length of the rollers and are interconnected by means that hold them in alignment at all times and constrains them to move as a unit. The means shown in the drawing is illustrative of means for the purpose indicated, and consists of a'shaft 3| mounted in bearings 32 A drum 33 is positioned adj acent *each bearing. An endless 'cable 'orlpiano wire 34iisiwoun`d several times about each drum and is preferably anchored thereto. The cables extend across the machine in the manner shown in Figure 4 and pass around ,groovedirollers v35 that are positioned between brackets :36. Plates 28 are provided on their undersurfaces with ,lugs 31 through which the wires or cables pass. 'Suitable means such as enlargements38 .on .thecables is provided to prevent lugs 31 from moving along the cable. When shaft 3| is turned plates 28 move transversely to the same extent since drums 3-3have thefsame'outsidediameter. In'the-rcomimercial 'machines automatic means is provided for shifting plates 223,2but'-for the purposeof .ex- :plan'ati'on `and simplicity -a manually operable means has been illustrated.

Referr-ing lnowffmorev particularly to "Figures 7 and 8, it will be observed that'shaftl rpasses through two `spaced bearing-s 39. `A notched -whe'ell 4D tis positioned between bearings 539 yand splined to the shaft. A handle 4| hasone 'end forked, providing two `v`iingers '42 between 'which 'is-mounted for pivotati'on fa doublefacting pawl 54-3 'that `is resiliently held in -either of 'two-posiftions 'by fa spring -4-4. Bybscillating handle4| 'shaft is turnedlandgplates=28 are shifted transversely. The upper surfaces 'of members vH5 may beiprovided with spaced marks A45 that indicate thenorrect position of plates 28. Other equivaient means to determine the position of kplates `28'may'be-substituted.

The rollers'are turn-ed `by power derived from 'am'otori -which'is of the back geared reversible "type, `In `Figure Vl9 `one method A'of Vdriving the rollers has 'beens'hownas Yan example. Attached to theA trunnions of therollers are sprocket wheels A sprocketchain *4t is trained over sprockets 'A41 and over the sprocket wheel 49 on the `motor shaft. 'For the sake .of clearness 'the drive "has lbeen shown in its simplest form, In 'the actual embodiment a v.speed reduction f gear :is provided between the "motor shaft Vand sprocket 49. VIt :is possible to vemploy a heavyitorgues'low speed motor withoutgearlreduction. A'The motor control'that is `ordinarily employed "with reversible motors is employed, but hasnot :heenshown in detail, Vbut has been indicated'in"a.fgeneral way. in 'Figure 9 and` designated'by numeral 50,'the control handle being designated by 'For `the ,purpose .of holding 'the metal sheet Aonto the tops of .plates"28., two 'rollers 52 'have lbeen provided.. 'These rollers 'areprovided rwith trunnions that Yare journale'd in bearings 53. `Rollers 52 have `considerable weight and Lthe openlings in bearings 53 are preferablylarger 'than the 'trunnions so that vthe entire Vweight of Vthe rollers will rest on the*.upper'surface of theplate.

Openatt'ofn "Letus now vassume that' a'm'achine constructed "infthe manner'shownl and described isto be operated vfor Athe purpose of corrugating aluminum sheet 26. 'The 'sheets that are 4to becorrugated -may'be of any desired'length and width,'but are Apreferablyslightly narrower Y'than plates 28. At thebeginning of "the voperation plates 2B vare posi- .fthe vsheet each time the plate` passes. :grooves that have been previously formed will, L however, be positioned betweenthe corresponding tioned adjacent the upper side member I4 when viewed as in Figure 1. The plate to be corrugated is positioned on one of the supporting plates 28 between it and roller 50 and is positioned with its lower edge slightly below the central ridge on roller 23, The rollers are nowturned in such a direction that their adjacent surfaces move .fromright toileft. When the plate enters between the rollers ridge 25, cooperating with the .corresponding groove in roller 22, makes a groove Vin the aluminum plate. This groove has been .designated'byreference numeral 54. After the plate .has passed entirely through between the rollers the motor is stopped and handle 4| is moved-so as to bring the plates 28 downwardly or toward theframe member |4 at the bottom of Figure 1. The amount of movement may be determined by the lines 45 or by any other suitable means. The plate is now in position where fthe rst :groove registers :with the second 'ridge .and 'the .second :groove :on ythe rollers. 'the rollers fare rotated 'the plate 'will move When toward the right as shown in Figure i1 land a second groove will be formed. It will be observed fthatuonly one groove is formed `in All the ridges andVgrooves-in the rollers and will b'elsubje'cted to additional pressure, which serves to l'compact the material and to harden it so 'that when the entire sheetfhas been corrugated it will be .much -harder and more rigid than before. After all grooves have been formed'in"-the sheet it maybe removed or it maybe passed vbackfand "forth forfurther'hardening if desired.

Attention is called to the ffact kthat with 'the constructionrshown-and described only one 'groove vor corrugation vis formed in the plate each'time it passes between the rollers. "Since the uncorrugated portion of the plate is free to=slide between the rollers, the plate will not split or tear'along the 'corrugations in themanner that usually happens if a large number of corrugations are made at the same time. With the mechanism shown and described the grooves or corrugations are formed'to their complete depth lat the rstpassage between the rollers, and the Asubsequent "passages, vin addition to 'forming new Ygrooves or corrugations, serve to harden Vthe material by subjecting 'it to additional pressure 'so thatwhen the plate Ais completedithas'the characteristics of a cold rolled sheet. The :frequent passages between the rollers produce .an exceedingly smooth surface on the sheet, which makes .it vadapted -'for line finish, and since it closes any pores or openings, the material after thistreat- `ment will more effectively resist the action of `the elements.

`in position to corrugate sheetmetalfortheir own use or for the market.

Particular attention is rcalled vto the fact that with this construction the rollers havesmooth cylindrical surfaces for one-halfvof their length and the other half has cooperating grooves and ridges. The pressure exerted by the rollers may be adjusted by means of nuts 24, which also serve to adjust the machine to different thicknesses of metal plate.

It is contemplated to make this machine auto matic in its operation. The mechanism for this. however, has not been shown, as the changes necessary for this modification can be readily effected by means quite commonly employed for somewhat similar purposes.

Although the construction shown and described is believed to bel very desirable, it is to be understood, however, that applicant does not desire to be limited to any of the specific details shown, as the machine may be varied in design `as may be desired within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new is Y 1. A machine for providing an elongated metal sheet with transversely spaced longitudinally eX- tending corrugations, comprising in combination, an elongated frame having two spaced parallel members, one pair of forming rollers mounted on the frame for rotation about vertically spaced,

transverse axes, substantially one-half 0f the length of each roller having a smooth cylindrical surface, the other halves having cooperating grooves and ribs, means interconnecting the rollers for simultaneous rotation in opposite directions, means on the frame for supporting the sheet at the top level of the cylindrical surface of the lower roller, means for shifting the sheet supporting means in the direction of the length of the rollers, and means for rotating the rollers in either direction. l

V2. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which the sheet supporting means comprises two plates, one on each side of the forming rollers, the upper surfaces of the plates having parallel grooves spaced the same distance as the grooves on the lower roller, and in which means is provided for simultaneously moving the grooved plates a distance equal to the distance between the grooves on the forming roller.

3. A device in accordance with claim lin which the forming rollers have trunnions journaled in bearings mounted for relative movement in a vertical direction to permit variation in spacing between the rollers.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which the two frame members are interconnected by two Vpair of spaced transverse bars, one pair being on each side of the forming rollers and in which each .pair of bars supports a grooved plate on which the sheet to be corrugated rests, the upper surfaces of the plates having parallel grooves spaced apart the same distance as the grooves on the forming roller and in which means is provided for simultaneously shifting the grooved plates in the direction of the axes of the forming rollers, and other means for guiding them in their transverse movement.

5. A device in accordance with claim 2 in which a freely rotatable roller i-s mounted above each groovedr plate in position to rest on the upper surface of the sheet that is being corrugated to hold it in position on the plates.

6. A device in accordance with claim 4 in which a freely rotatable roller is mounted above each grooved plate in position to rest on the upper surface of the sheet that is being corrugated to hold it in position on the plates.

CLARENCE A. RICHARDSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES` PATENTS Germany of 1884 

